WEBVTT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SUMMER OF THE BEAR. THEY CAME INTO ALBUQUERQUE IN RECORD NUMBERS LAST YEAR. AND WITH THE ONGOING DROUGHT, GAME AND FISH THOUGHT WE'D SEE EVEN MORE IN 20-14. KOAT ANCHOR TODD KURTZ SHOWS US WHY THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE SHOCKING...FOR NOW. LAST YEAR WAS THE "SUMMER OF THE BEAR." WE WERE OUT AT DOZENS OF SIGHTINGS... BY THE END OF AUGUST GAME AND FISH HAD TAKEN 33 BEARS OUT OF THE CITY. SO FAR THIS YEAR -- 1. SGT RICK CASTELL -- I don't think it's possible to be busier than we were last summer GAME AND FISH HAD 422 BEAR SIGHTING CALLS IN ALBUQUERQUE LAST YEAR. FLIP TO THIS YEAR ... FEWER THAN 20. SERGEANT RICK CASTELL SEES TWO CHANGES. WE HAD SPOTTY EARLY RAIN SHOWERS -- LIKELY HELPING MOUNTAIN VEGETATION. SGT RICK CASTELL -- that provided more food for them coming out of the dens. AND DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING ALL OF THOSE GRASSHOPPERS THIS SUMMER? YEP, THAT CAN BE BEAR FOOD TOO. SGT RICK CASTELL -- bears are omnivorous, they'll eat anything -- i'm sure that didn't hurt the situation. TODD KURTZ -- STAND UP -- saying all of that, even though numbers are down, game and fish wants to warn everyone we are just getting into peak bear season. SGT RICK CASTELL -- 200 bears, they're going to start wanting to fatten up before they go into dens for the winter 204// 212the bears are going to be looking for food and seeing bears is not going to be out of the question.218 THE CONCERN IS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL RELAX ON ALL OF THE RULES TO KEEP BEARS AWAY. WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET... BUT IT'S ALMOST A GUARANTEE... THEY'RE COMING. TODD KURTZ KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS. SOME OF THE RULES TO FOLLOW - WAIT TO TAKE YOUR GARBAGE OUT, UNTIL THE DAY IT'S PICKED UP. KEEP BIRD FEEDERS OUT OF YOUR YARD. AND DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING LIKE DOG FOOD LAYING AROUND OUTSIDE.